cville-lax.com

From Media Releases; Photos: cville-lax.com

Brittany Kalkstein (17) pushes the ball past Penn State’s Maria Valderas, Friday, March 9, 2007. (Click for a larger version: 105K) Kalkstein, a freshman, scored the Cavalier’s final goal of the night.

The Virginia defense held Penn State to only four shots in the decisive second half, and the Cavaliers won nine of the 12 second-half draws, including three each by Kaitlin Duff and Kate Breslin, which resulted in a 9-2 second half in favor of the ‘Hoos that helped Virginia defeat Penn State 13-6. The game was tied 4-4 at halftime after the Nittany Lions scored three goals in a span of four minutes to end the period after Virginia had built a 4-1 lead to open the game. Kendall McBrearty had eight saves, including four on the first four Penn State shots, to lead the Cavalier defense. Kate Breslin notched her third hat trick in four games, while Ashley McCulloch and Blair Weymouth also both had three goals in the win.

A McBrearty save off Penn State’s first possession was brought upfield where McCulloch attacked the cage from the right side and scored to put the Hoos up 1-0. Duff won the first of her game-high four draw controls and the Cavaliers set their offense before Megan O’Malley dumped the ball into Breslin, who scored 59 seconds after McCulloch for a 2-0 UVa lead.

McBrearty made another save at the other end and Virginia transitioned the ball upfield where they settled the ball before Weymouth drove from the top, scoring at 17:09 for a 3-0 lead. Penn State got on the board as Jessi Lieb was sent to the 8-meter and passed it off to Theresa Bucci, who scored at 12:30 to break the drought.

Nittany Lion Jenn Green (24) defends Cavalier Ashley McCulloch (16) at Klockner Stadium, Friday, March 9, 2007. (Click for a larger version: 128K) McCulloch regstered 3 goals and an assist in the 13-8 win over Penn State.

Virginia answered back as Pennsylvania native Megan Havrilla won the draw control and the Cavaliers settled the ball on offense before working it back to Breslin, who dumped the ball into Havrilla, who scored at 9:41 for a 4-1 lead.

The Nittany Lions roared right back, scoring on three consecutive 8-meter shots. Jessi Lieb scored twice from the left of McBrearty to pull within one, and then she won the ensuing draw control and got the ball to Megan McGuire, who scored from the right to tie the game with 47 seconds to go in the half. Maria Valderas won the draw for PSU, but the Lions could not capitalize and the teams entered the half tied at 4-4.

Duff won the opening draw of the second half and Virginia got the ball to McCulloch, who scored on the 8-meter 43 seconds into the period to retake the lead. Again a McBrearty save started the scoring play as Jess Wasilewski gathered the loose ball and the end of the transition Weymouth drove to the cage and scored.

The Nittany Lions won the draw on a foul, and PSU had a player free in the arc. The leading pass was taken straight to the cage, but McBrearty stopped the point-blank, uncontested shot and Virginia went the other way where Wasilewski attacked from the left and dumped the ball back to a rolling Breslin, who scored at 24:45 for a three-goal lead. McCulloch completed a transition a minute later for a four-goal lead at 8-4 and was fouled on the shot. Breslin was awarded a free position at the draw, and she took the ball right to the cage, scoring 11 seconds after McCulloch for a 9-4 lead.

Karen Long scored to stop the run at 18:11, and Lieb scored her third goal of the night seven minutes later to pull within three at 9-6, but the Lions did not get off a shot for the rest of the night.

Jen Holden picked off a pass in the arc and Virginia went upfield where Weymouth fed Breslin down low for a goal at 8:49. Duff stopped a Penn State transition with a caused turnover and ground ball, and in the Cavaliers’ offensive zone Virginia saw Weymouth take from the top for her third goal of the game. McBrearty picked up a loose ball just outside her cage and Virginia again brought the ball forward where Wasilewski converted a draw and dump from Breslin to give the ‘Hoos a dozen goals. Again the Cavaliers won the draw but lost it briefly before Breslin caused a turnover and McCullock picked up the ground ball, holding it briefly before feeding Brittany Kalkstein, who quicksticked it in the cage for the last goal of the evening.

McBrearty finished with eight saves, two ground balls and a caused turnover as Virginia held the Nittany Lions to their lowest goal total for the season.

Virginia returns to action with a game against ACC rival Maryland on Tuesday, March 13. Game time at Klockner Stadium is 5 p.m. Fans can also watch the game on ACC Select, Virginia.playonsports.tv. The Nittany Lions continue their road trip on Sunday, traveling to Williamsburg, for a match-up with William & Mary.